2006 NJ Senatorial Election

Originally Menendez wanted to run in 2000, But then DSCC Chairman Robert Torricelli Froze him out, recruiting Goldman Sachs Executive Jon Corzine to run for the seat instead. 

Later, in 2004, When Governor McGreevey was under fire for scandal and the party thought of replacing him with Corzine, Menendez made it clear that if Corzine vacated the senate seat that he would run, amassing a $4 Million war-chest running, and being considered the frontrunner

Despite some worry regarding Menendez's Hudson county political baggage, He was appointed by Corzine - Joining Florida's Mel Martinez and Colorado's Ken Salazar as the Chamber's hispanic members 

The Primaries were a sleepy affair, with Menendez and Kean receiving no major opposition.

The Campaign saw Kean try and distance himself from the unpopular president Bush, avoiding appearing with members of the administration, criticizing the war in iraq, and calling for the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld

Further, Kean made Menendez's Hudson county connections, and sub par ethics a centerpiece of his campaign - reminding voter's of Hudson county's longstanding reputation for corruption. 

To this effect, two months before the election, NJ's US District Attorney Chris Christie Subpoenaed Menendez and records from North Hudson Community Action Corp, a non-profit that received federal funding, and payed Menendez to rent $300K to Rent a building the senator owned

Democrats condemned the Subpoenas as politically motivated, and eventually Kean's Ethics offensive unravled when it surface that he asked a Federal prisoner, Former Hudson County Executive Robert Janiszewski for Dirt on Menendez, a man convicted on Corruption charges.

This resulted in Menendez accusing Kean of Running a smear campaign, cutting an add that hat the line "Federal Prisoner 25038-050. He's Tom Kean Jr's Newest Advisor"